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Synthetic Oil - is it worth it?

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Old Oct 24, 2007 | 07:17 PM
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From: Metro Detroit, MI [Sterling Hts.]
Synthetic Oil - is it worth it?

I have heard that Synthetic lubes the engine better and gets less grimy. Mobil 1, AMSOIL, and Royal Purple have good reps.

Also I have heard to truly have the positive effect of Synthetic - it's better to begin using it ASAP and never go back to motor oil thereafter.

I plan on just buying the 5 Quarts and Oil filter which comes to about $35 and then paying the $17 in labor I owe Infiniti to just use it on the change. So each change will come to about $50 which still isn't that bad compared to their already $40ish oil changes when they use their own motor oil at markup!

And it's not that I cant change my own oil, I used to on my Accord and GS400 at home but at 1 1/2 hours a change (I'm slow and I use normal jacks) I just got LAZY and now I have a couple of bucks....



INPUT????
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Old Oct 24, 2007 | 08:17 PM
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Seems to me synthetic oil is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist. You hardly ever see cars burning oil today.
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Old Oct 24, 2007 | 08:55 PM
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It's a common question without a common answer.

Really, it's up to your own preference. As long as you keep within your maintenance intervals, you're fine.

Personally, I swear by synthetic. The engine seems to run smoother with less noise longer.
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Old Oct 24, 2007 | 09:17 PM
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If you're going to change your oil within factory specs anyway (3750 miles), then synthetic doesn't offer any real advantages. You'll do just fine with a good conventional motor oil (Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol, etc.)

But hey, it's your money. If it'll make you sleep better at night, go for it
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 03:29 AM
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You can bring ur own oil..... well, I can and that what I always used to do..... since my dealer only carry castrol and I use Mobil1.....so they deduct the price of the oil from the total price....
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 10:47 AM
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From: Metro Detroit, MI [Sterling Hts.]
Originally Posted by Motor25
But hey, it's your money. If it'll make you sleep better at night, go for it
So true lol

BTW is anyone doing the old school 500-700 mile oil change in case theres fine metal parts and other "settling gunk particles" in the oil? I heard that was more necessary on older cars. Me personally I was thinking of waiting until the 3750 mile mark as recommended...It's got motor oil now and I am assuming normal motor oil, not break in oil, so I am thinking the first change I will do Synthetic and get that started. Is there anything saying that you should start synthetic after a few normal motor oil changes or can you start with synthetic straight away on the first change?

Last edited by DetroitG37Joe; Oct 25, 2007 at 10:50 AM.
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:33 PM
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If you ask anyone who really knows these engines they will tell you not to use synthetic oil until at least 15k miles or so. I dont know the exact reasons but something to do with how slippery it is. I would be surprised if the dealer would even put synthetic into your new car for you.
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:36 PM
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I did my first oil change at 1000 miles just for piece of mind for me. I will be going with regular oil every 3750 miles until at least 20k miles. Then I will consider synthetic. Other posters on this forum said that you shouldnt change to synthetic until after 20K on this engine. I plan on keeping this car for a while so I may change then. Only time will tell!!
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 04:32 PM
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You guys are absolutely right - I did more research and synthetic is only recommended after a minimum of 15K miles because normal petroleum motor oil actually settles in and initially conditions the moving parts of the engine throughout an elongated "oil and moving parts break in sequence" and synthetic is real slippery. For now I am gonna do a motor oil change around 1200mi right after break in period.

Last edited by DetroitG37Joe; Oct 25, 2007 at 04:37 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 06:40 PM
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Most automotive makers recommend normal condition oil changes every 7500 miles. I have followed this on two Hondas cars I bought new have put well over a 100,000 miles on each one and the engines ran as strong as the day I drove them off the lot. Consumer reports has also done tests that proves todays regular engine oils can easily maintain performance over 7500 miles. Changing oil any more than this is just causing environmental issue and making oil companies richer. I think the problem with synthetics is that even though they probably don't break down as quick as regular oil, they still get just as dirty and dirt is not an engine's friend. My advice is just buy regular oil and change it every 7500.

Last edited by mhfnet; Oct 25, 2007 at 06:49 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Motor25
If you're going to change your oil within factory specs anyway (3750 miles), then synthetic doesn't offer any real advantages. You'll do just fine with a good conventional motor oil (Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol, etc.)

But hey, it's your money. If it'll make you sleep better at night, go for it

This is very true. The fact is syn does not clean better then normal oil. It just does not break down as fast compaired to normal oil. Syn is designed to be put in a car and run for 15k miles before changing. If your switching anything before that your wasting money. That is the reason, BMW, Porsche, Land Rover all have you do oil changes every 15k
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Old Oct 25, 2007 | 09:31 PM
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If your thinking about using Syn oil, you should check out Eneos oil, pm me if you need some. You can go up to 15k per oil change on it.


http://www.nolimitmotorsport.com/eneos/

Last edited by evildarkness; Oct 26, 2007 at 11:15 PM.
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Old Oct 26, 2007 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by mhfnet
My advice is just buy regular oil and change it every 7500.
Except, the service and maintenance manual for G37's says to change your oil every 3,750 miles, or 7,500 miles for long distance highway steady state cruising in temperate climates. You know what's coming next; RTFM!

Last edited by dmkozak; Oct 26, 2007 at 10:00 AM.
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Old Oct 27, 2007 | 09:40 PM
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Even though the oil itself will not breakdown in 3750 miles, it is the small oil filters on the Japaneese cars that get spent.

If you look at the oil filters on cars that go 15k between changes, they are much, much larger.


For myself, I have always put synthetic in my G, but, at this point when I get another car I will not spend the money because I do not feel that it is worth it as long as you change your dino oil regularly.
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Old Oct 28, 2007 | 01:46 PM
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On an OEM normally aspirated engine, used on the street, you guys have some valid points, and opinions.

Since we assemble a lot of forged engines in house, and have torn down others, we see things that point to the benifit of using a good quality synthetic oil. Not all synthetic oils are created equally, and everyone will have an opinion on what works best.

But under more harsh and extreme usage, any engine will benefit from a good quality synthetic. We use Motul in all of our OEM and built engines.

In regards to when to switch, many engine builders, will tell you that engines break in VERY quickly. Particularly OEM engines, with very tight assembly clearances. The danger is actually under-breaking in your engine, rather than over breaking it. We recommend switching to sythetic at about 1500 miles.


IMHO, and this is just my OPINION...LOL. The reason OEM's have a break-in period, is primarily driven by the lawyers, that want to make sure you don't beat the crap out of your car, prior to getting used to how to actually operate the vehicle.
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